Are Piers Morgan’s Visa Issues Postponing The End Of Larry King Live? Probably Not

by Frances Martel | 3:21 pm, August 20th, 2010

» 7 comments

CNN staple Larry King decided to hang up the suspenders earlier this summer and vacate the network’s 9PM spot, with new host Piers Morgan to replace him in the fall. The New York Post is reporting that, due to “visa issues” (Morgan is a UK citizen), King will stay until the end of the year and “jumped at the chance” to. Except, outside of the Post‘s “exclusive” “sources,” there seems to be no evidence for this.

The Post story, billed as an exclusive, claims that Morgan had only been receiving summer work visas for America’s Got Talent, and that the full-year visa he would need to work on CNN was proving troublesome:

CNN is asking Larry King to postpone his final show — slated for fall — and stick around until the end of the year, The Post has learned.

British journalist and “America’s Got Talent” judge Piers Morgan, who is widely thought to be King’s replacement, is apparently having trouble obtaining a work visa, according to several sources. It is uncertain how serious the glitch is — but it has apparently held up the long-awaited deal to put Morgan in King’s chair by late October or early November. [...]

As a British citizen, Morgan needs a special visa that will allow him to work full-time in the US — and those types of visas are increasingly difficult to get, according to lawyers who specialize in the field.

The Post also notes that a CNN spokesman “declined to comment” and because “no date has been announced yet, there’s nothing specific at this point.”

It’s interesting to note that the most concrete sources in the article who are cited with a title other than “sources” are the CNN spokesperson denying the story and “lawyers who specialize in the field” (of immigration law, we assume). The juiciest bit of the piece is the claim that King “jumped at the chance” to stay for longer, implying that he’s not quite ready to leave or that, perhaps, there is conflict between the host and his heir– none of which seems to have any basis in any previously confirmed information. In fact, it sounds like King and Morgan are going to get along great, and King is excited about spending more time with his children.

Sources within CNN tell Mediaite that King exit in the fall is still on schedule. Plus, it’s not like CNN doesn’t have cameras in London.

CNN, larry king, Larry King Live, New York Post, Piers Morgan

Moderate

“due to “visa issues” (Morgan is a UK citizen), King will stay until the end of the year”

You don’t need no stinking visa to visit this country, just enter through Mexico.
BatBoy

Are Piers Morgan’s Visa Issues Postponing The End Of Larry King Live?

This is just another job an american doesn’t want to do!
puck30

Maybe Piers Morgan is finding out moving to CNN these days is not a good career builder.
Moderate

“it’s not like CNN doesn’t have cameras in London.”

CNN doesn’t need any more damage to it’s reputation, they are already seen by some as being anti-american.
The Real Royal King

Moderate said:
“it’s not like CNN doesn’t have cameras in London.” CNN doesn’t need any more damage to it’s reputation, they are already seen by some as being anti-american.

Duh! Have you heard of CNN International? Worldwide coverage? In English in most countries? 212 countries? Huge, huge viewership. Americans abroad and non-Americans.

AT FOX “REPORTING” THE “NEWS”
IS NO UNDERTAKING,
JUST RECITE A FEW LIES,
IT’S ALL SIMPLY FAKING.
http://insidecablenews.wordpress.com/ Spud

“Sources within CNN tell Mediaite that King exit in the fall is still on schedule.”

I would point out that going to CNN for any information concerning Piers Morgan should be taken with a grain of salt. Hell…throw in the whole salt shaker. This network has repeatedly been very cagey in its responses to Morgan queries. If we look at this particular comment that King’s exit is “still on schedule”…all that shows is that CNN is sticking to that schedule for the moment. It says nothing about whether Morgan has a Visa issue or not or whether CNN set up a contingency plan with King in case Morgan’s alleged visa issues delay a start. The lesson here: Take nothing CNN says regarding Piers Morgan or Larry King at face value until Morgan is signed and King exits.

Are there really Visa issues? Who knows. The Wrap says The Post’s story is BS.

“Plus, it’s not like CNN doesn’t have cameras in London.”

That’s a non-starter and CNN knows it’s a non-starter. They aren’t going to put Morgan in temporary digs for the premiere of his show. They can’t afford to “soft launch” Morgan. Too much is riding on it. The last thing they want is a long protracted rollout like what happened with Campbell Brown.
notsofast

If they hire this gasbag, CNN might as well turn out the one light it still has on.